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PINOCCHIO
THIRTEENTH IMPRESSION
The Stories All
Children Love Series
"This edition should be in every child's
room." Wisconsin Library Bulletin.
PI-MI/.'
AND
x
R L
HE SAW HIS YELLOW WIG IN THE PUPPETS HAND
CHMHaOOOCHBOOOOOOOOOOPOOOOOOOOOWCK
-
PINOCCHIO
THE STORY OF A PUPPET
g
BY
"C. COLLODI"
(CARLO LORENZINI)
.)
TIL;
B
XVI. The Beautiful Child with Blue Hair Has the Puppet
Taken Down: Has Him Put to Bed and Calls in
Three Doctors to Know if He is Alive or Dead 78
XVII. Pinocchio Eats the Sugar, but will not Take His
Medicine: When, However, He sees the Grave-
diggers, Who have Arrived to Carry Him Away,
He Takes it. He then Tells a Lie, and as a Punish-
ment His Nose Grows Longer 83
XVIII. Pinocchio Meets Again the Fox and the Cat, and Goes
with Them to Bury His Money in the Field of
Miracles 90
a Trap 102
He Began with his Hands and Nails to Dig up the Earth that
He had Watered 99
My legs. But
to say the truth, Master
Antonio, I am come to ask a
favour of you."
'
Here I am, ready to serve you," replied
the carpenter, getting on to his knees.
'
' "
Bravo, Polendina! exclaimed the same
and it was impossible to say where
little voice,
itcame from.
Hearing 'himself called Polendina, Gep-
petto became as red as a turkey-cock from rage,
and turning to the carpenter he said in a fury :
'
'
I want a little wood to make my puppet;
will you give me some?
'
'
I swear to you that it was not I ..." !
'
I know that it was the wood but it was ;
"Liar!"
*
"Ass!"
"Polendina!"
"Donkey!"
"Polendina!"
"Baboon!"
"Polendina!"
On hearing himself called Polendina for the
third time Geppetto, blind with rage, fell upon
the carpenter and they fought desperately.
When the battle was over, Master Antonio
had two more scratches on his nose, and his
adversary had two buttons too little on his
waistcoat. Their accounts being thus squared
they shook hands, and swore to remain good
friends for the rest of their lives.
Geppetto carried off his fine piece of wood
and, thanking Master Antonio, returned limp-
ing to his house.
Ill
GEPPETTO HAVING RETURNED HOME BEGINS AT
ONCE TO MAKE A PUPPET, TO WHICH HE
GIVES THE NAME OF PINOCCHIO. THE FIRST
TRICKS PLAYED BY THE PUPPET
at me?"
No one answered.
He then proceeded to carve the nose; but
no sooner had he made it than it began to grow.
And it grew, and grew, and grew, until in a
few minutes it had become an immense nose
that seemed as if it would never end.
Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cut-
ting it off; but the more he cut and shortened
it, the longer did that impertinent nose become !
'
instantly !
nearly smothered.
Geppetto at this insolent and derisive be-
haviour felt sadder and more melancholy than
he had ever been in his life before; and turning
to Pinocchio he said to him:
"
You young rascal You are not yet com-
!
too late!"
He then took the puppet under the arms
22 PINOCCHIO
and placed him on the floor to teach him to
walk.
Pinocchio's legs were stiff and he could not
move, but Geppetto led him by the hand and
showed him how to put one foot before the
other.
When his legs became flexible Pinocchio
of it sooner ! . . ."
What happened afterwards is a story that
really past is all belief, but I will relate it to
you in the following chapters.
IV
THE STORY OF PINOCOHIO AND THE TALKING-
CRICKET, FROM WHICH WE SEE THAT
NAUGHTY BOYS CANNOT ENDURE TO BE COR-
RECTED BY THOSE WHO KNOW MORE THAN
THEY DO
then, children, I must tell you
shall be made
to study either by love or by
force. To tell you in confidence, I have no
wish to learn it is much more amusing to run
;
'
you if I fly into a passion! ."
. .
"
Because you are a puppet and, what is
"
That will bring somebody."
And so it did. A
little old man appeared
at a window with a nightcap on his head,and
called to him angrily:
32
PINOCCH1O 33
'
'
Come underneath and hold out your cap."
Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but just as he
held it out an enormous basin of water was
poured down on him, watering him from head
to foot as if he had been a pot of dried-up
geraniums.
He returned home like a wet chicken quite
exhausted with fatigue and hunger; and hav-
ing no longer strength to stand, he sat down
and rested his damp and muddy feet nn a
brazier full of burning embers.
And then he fell asleep and whilst he slept
;
'
Why cannot you ?
You
are no doubt right," interrupted
"
Pinocchio, but I will never eat fruit that has
not been peeled. I cannot bear rind."
So that good Geppetto fetched a knife,
and arming himself with patience peeled the
three pears, and put the rind on a corner of the
table.
the first pear in two mouth-
Having eaten
fuls,Pinocchio was about to throw away the
core but Geppetto caught hold of his arm and
;
said to him :
"
Do not throw it away; in this world every-
thing may be of use."
"
But core I am determined I will not eat,"
shouted the puppet, turning upon him like a
viper.
"
Who knows there are so many chances
! !
" '
I am as hungry as ever!
"
But, my boy, I have nothing more to give
you!"
" '
"
"
You see now," observed Geppetto, that
I was right when
I said to you that it did not
do to accustom ourselves to be too particular
or too dainty in our tastes. can never We
know, my dear boy, what may happen to us.
There are so many chances! . . ."
VIII
GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET, AND
SELLS HIS OWN COAT TO BUY HIM A SPELLING-
BOOK
sooner had the puppet appeased his
NO
new feet.
hunger than he began to cry and to
grumble because he wanted a pair of
get one?
'
It is quite easy. We have only to go to
the bookseller's and buy it."
"
I have sold it."
" "
"
Why did you sell it?
Because I found it too hot."
Pinocchio understood this answer in an
instant, and unable to restrain the impulse of
his good heart he sprang up, and throwing his
arms round Geppetto's neck he began kissing
him again and again.
IX
PINOCCHIO SELLS HIS SPELLING-BOOK THAT HE
MAY GO AND SEE A PUPPET-SHOW
"
To-day at school I will learn to read at
once then to-morrow I will begin to write, and
;
44
PINOCCHIO 45
* ' "
GREAT PUPPET THEATRE
(C '
Has the play begun long?
46 PINOCCHIO
"
It is beginning now."
'
How much does it cost to go in? '
"
Twopence."
Pinocchio, who was in a fever of curiosity,
lost all control of himself, and without any
shame he said to the boy to whom he was talking :
'
"
That would be a wonderful acquisition in-
deed A cap of bread crumb There would be
! !
Spelling-book?
"
I am a boy and I don't buy from boys,"
replied his little interlocutor, who had much
more sense than he had.
"
I will buy the Spelling-book for two-
pence," called out a hawker of old clothes, who
had been listening to the conversation.
And the book was sold there and then. And
to think that poor Geppetto had remained at
home trembling with cold in his shirt sleeves,
that he might buy his son a Spelling-book!
X
THE PUPPETS RECOGNISE THEIR BROTHER PINOC-
CHIO, AND RECEIVE HIM WITH DELIGHT BUT ;
"
Gods of the firmament! do I dream, or
am I awake? But surely that is Pinocchio ! ."
. .
" "
It is indeed Pinocchio! cried Punchinello.
48
PINOCCfflO 49
"
Pinocchio, come up here to me," cried
"
Harlequin, and throw yourself into the arms
'
of your wooden brothers!
At this affectionate invitation Pinocchio
made a leap from the end of the pit into the
reserved seats; another leap landed him on the
head of the leader of the orchestra, and he then
sprang upon the stage.
The embraces, the hugs, the friendly
pinches, and the demonstrations of warm broth-
erly affection that Pinocchio received from the
excited crowd of actors and actresses of the
pupped dramatic company beat description.
The sight was doubtless a moving one, but
the public in the pit, finding that the play was
stopped, became impatient, and began to shout:
"
We will have the play go on with the play! '
said to them:
PINOCCfflO 51
"
Bring that puppet here you will find him
:
"
Have done crying! Your lamentations
have given me a pain in my stomach. ... I feel
a spasm, that almost Etci! etci!" and he
. . .
"
etci! and he sneezed again three times.
" "
Bless you ! said Pinocchio.
"
Thank you All the same, some compas-
!
ing to my !
" '
Here there are no commanders !
"
Have pity, Excellence! ." . .
I "
What is your father's name? '
'
Geppetto."
"
And what trade does he follow?
'
He is a beggar.'
" '
Does he gain much?
"
Gain much? Why, he has never a penny
in his pocket. Only think, to buy a Spelling-
book for me to go to school he was obliged to
sell the only coat he had to wear a coat that,
between patches and darns, was not fit to be
seen."
I feel almost sorry for him
'
Poor devil ! I
"
He was in his shirt sleeves and shivering
with cold."
"Poor papa! But that is over; for the
future he shall shiver no more ! . . ."
"
"
Why?
Because I am become a gentleman."
" "
A gentleman you ! said the Fox, and
he began to laugh rudely and scornfully. The
Cat also began to laugh, but to conceal it she
combed her whiskers with her forepaws.
"
There is little to laugh at," cried Pinoc-
I am really sorry to make your
'
chio angrily.
mouths water, but if you know anything about
PINOCCHIO 59
it, you can see that these here are five gold
pieces."
And he pulled out the money that Fire-
eater had made him a present of.
At the sympathetic ring of the the money
Fox, with an involuntary movement, stretched
out the paw that had seemed crippled, and the
Cat opened wide two eyes that looked like two
green lanterns. It is true that she shut them
again, and so quickly that Pinocchio observed
nothing.
'
And now," asked the Fox, " what are you
'
going to do with all that money?
' "
First of all," answered the puppet, I
intend to buy a new coat for my papa, made
of gold arid silver, and with diamond buttons;
and then I will buy a Spelling-book for
myself."
" "
For yourself?
Yes indeed for I wish
: to go to school to
study in earnest."
" " "
Look at me! Fox. said the
Through
my "
foolish passion for study I have lost a leg."
Look at me! " said the Cat. " Through
my foolish passion for study I have lost the
sight of both eyes."my
At that moment a white Blackbird, that
was perched on the hedge by the road, began
and said
his usual song, :
60 PINOCCHIO
"Pinocchio, don't listen to the advice of
bad companions: if you do you will repent
"
it'
V
J.
Cat,
"
why did you treat him so badly?
I did it to give him a lesson. He will
learn another time not to meddle in other
people's conversation."
They had gone almost half-way when the
Fox, halting suddenly, said to the puppet :
"
Would you like to double your money? '
" '
In what way?
"
Would you
like to make out of your five
miserable sovereigns, a hundred, a thousand,
'
two thousand?
" '
I should think so! but in what way?
"
The way is easy enough. Instead of re-
turning home you must go with us."
"
And where do you wish to take me?
'
"
To the
land of the Owls."
Pinocchio reflected a moment, and then he
said resolutely:
PINOCCHIO 61
"
No, I will not go. I am already close to
the house, and I will return home to my papa
who is waiting for me. Who
can tell how often
the poor old man must have sighed yesterday
when I did not come back I have indeed been
!
to think of it!"
" "
Well, then," said the Fox, you are quite
decided to go home? Go, then, and so much
the worse for you."
" "
So much the worse for you! repeated the
Cat.
"
Think well of it, Pinocchio, for you are
if :
"
Ready! Why, they left two hours ago." '
'
Why were they in such a hurry?
Because the Cat had received a message
to say that her eldest kitten was ill with chil-
blains on his feet, and was in danger of death."
' '
Did they pay for the supper?
"
What are you thinking of? They are
much too well educated to dream of offering
such an insult to a gentleman like you."
"
What a pity It is an insult that would
!
"
have given me so much
pleasure! said Pinoc-
chio, scratching his head. He then asked :
"
And where did my good friends say they
would wait for me ?
'
"
At the Field of miracles, to-morrow
morning at daybreak."
Pinocchio paid a sovereign for his supper
and that ofhis companions, and then left.
Outside the inn it was so pitch dark that he
had almost to grope his way, for it was im-
PINOCCHIO 67
I am determined to go on."
'
I am determined to go on."
'
The road
;
isdangerous ." ! . .
'
I am determined to go on."
'
Remember that boys who are bent on
following their caprices, and will have their
own way, sooner or later repent it."
'
" '
Your money or your life !
at once!
But Pinocchio was obdurate.
"Ah you pretend to
! be deaf, do you? Wait
a moment, leave it to us to find a means to make
you spit it out."
Andone of them seized the puppet by the
end of his nose, and the other took him by the
chin, and began to pull them brutally, the one
up and the other down, to constrain him to
open his mouth. But it was all to no purpose.
72 PINOCCHIO
Pinocchio's mouth seemed to be nailed and
riveted together.
Then the shorter assassin drew out an ugly
knife and tried to force it between his lips like
a lever or chisel. But Pinocchio, as quick as
lightning, caught his hand with his teeth, and
with one bite bit it clean off and spat it out.
Imagine his astonishment when instead of a
hand he perceived that he had spat a cat's paw
on to the ground.
Encouraged by this first victory he used his
nails to such purpose that he succeeded in lib-
'
A
fine bath to you, gentleman assassins.'*
And he felt convinced that they were
drowned, when, turning to look, he perceived
that on the contrary they were both running
after him, still enveloped in their sacks, with
the water dripping from them as if they had
been two hollow baskets.
XV
THE ASSASSINS PURSUE PINOCCHIO AND HAVING;
at least
self," shouted Pinocchio, crying and imploring.
I am dead also."
'
me away."
Having said this she disappeared, and the
window was closed without the slightest noise.
"
Oh! beautiful Child with bluehair," cried
Pinocchio, the door for pity's sake!
"open
Have compassion on a poor boy pursued by
assas . . ."
you to
open it! ." . .
" "
Let us hang him! repeated the other.
Without time they tied his arms be-
loss of
hind Lim, passed a running noose round his
throat, and then hung him to the branch of a
tree called the Big Oak.
They then sat down on the grass and waited
for his last struggle. But at the end of three
hours the puppet's eyes were open, his mouth
closed,and he was kicking more than ever.
Losing patience they turned to Pinocchio
and said in a bantering tone :
'
* '
"
To see him he appeared dead, but he can-
not really be quite dead, for I had no sooner
loosened the running noose that tightened his
throat than, giving a sigh, he muttered in a
faint voice:
'
Now
I feel better! . . .'
The Fairy then striking her hands together
made two little claps, and a magnificent Poodle
appeared, walking upright on his hind-legs ex-
actly as if he had been a man.
He was in the full-dress livery of a coach-
man. On his head he had a three-cornered cap
braided with gold, his curly white wig came
down on to his shoulders, he had a chocolate-
colored waistcoat with diamond buttons, and
two large pockets to contain the bones that his
mistress gave him at dinner. He
had besides
a pair of short crimson velvet breeches, silk
stockings, cut-down shoes, and hanging behind
him a species of umbrella-case made of blue
satin, to put his tail into when the weather was
rainy.
" "
Be
quick, Medoro, like a good dog! said
"
the Fairy to the Poodle. Have the most beau
80 PINOCCHIO
tiful carriage in my coach-house put to, and
take the road to the wood. When you come
to the Big Oak you will find a poor puppet
stretched on the grass half dead. Pick him up
gently, lay him on the cushions of the carriage
'
and bring him to me. Have you understood ?
The Poodle, to show that he had under-
stood, shook the case of blue satin that he had
on three or four times, and ran off like a race-
horse.
Shortly afterwards a beautiful little car-
riage came out of the coach-house. The cushions
were stuffed with canary feathers, and it was
lined in the inside with whipped cream, custard,
and Savoy biscuits. The little carriage was
drawn by a hundred pairs of white mice, and
the Poodle, seated on the coach-box, cracked
his whip from side to side like a driver when
he is afraid that he is behind time.
A quarter of an hour had not passed when
the carriage returned. The Fairy, who was
waiting at the door of the house, took the poor
puppet in her arms, and carried him into a
littleroom that was wainscoted with mother-
of-pearl, and sent at once to summon the most
famous doctors in the neighbourhood.
The doctors came immediately one after the
other: namely a Crow, an Owl, and a Talking-
cricket
THE CROW, ADVANCING FIRST, FELT PINOCCHIo's PULSE
JFRW TBJC
PUBLIC UBiARY
PINOCCfflO 81
*
I wish to know from you gentlemen,"
said the Fairy, turning to the three doctors
who were assembled round Pinocchio's bed
'
I wish to know from you gentlemen, if this
unfortunate puppet is alive or dead! . . ."
At
this request the Crow, advancing first,
feltPinocchio's pulse; he then felt his nose,
and then the little toe of his foot: and having
done this carefully, he pronounced solemnly the
following words :
;
bond. .". .
" "
Yes
i/o*
J_
"
It would be a fine thing if sugar was
medicine! ... I would take it every day."
"
Now keep your promise and drink these
few drops of water, which will restore you to
health."
Pinocchio took the tumbler unwillingly in
his hand and put the point of his nose to it:
he then approached it to his lips he then again :
"
I cannot drink it so!" said the puppet,
making a thousand grimaces.
"Why?'
"
Because that pillow that is down there
on my feet bothers me."
The Fairy removed the pillow.
" "
It is useless. Even so I can't drink it
"
What isthe matter now?
'
"
The door of the room, which is half open,
bothers me."
The Fairy went and closed the door.
"
In
short," cried Pinocchio, bursting into
"
tears, I will not drink that bitter water no,
no, no! . . ."
"
"
Myboy, you will repent it. . . ."
I don't care. ." . .
"
Your illness is serious. . . ."
"
I don't care. ." . .
"
The fever in a few hours will carry you
into the other world. ." . .
"
I don't care. ." . .
" '
Are you not afraid of death?
"
I am not in the least afraid I would ! . . .
good?"
"
Good, I should think so! It has restored
me to life! . . ."
PINOCCHIO 87
'
'
Now come here to me, and tell me how
you fell into the hands of those assassins."
'
It came about that the showman Fire-
eater gave me some gold pieces and said to me :
'
*
I have got none,' because I had hidden the
four gold pieces in my mouth, and one of the
assassins tried to put his hand in my mouth,
and I bit his hand off and spat it out, but in-
stead of a hand I spat out a cat's paw. And
the assassins ran after me, and I ran, and ran,
until at last they caught me, and tied me by
the neck to a tree in this wood, and said to me :
'
"
them? asked the Fairy.
"I have lost them!" said Pinocchio; but
he was telling a lie, for they were in his pocket.
He
had scarcely told the lie when his nose,
which was already long, grew at once two
fingers longer.
"
And
where did you lose them? '
"
In the wood near here."
At this second lie his nose went on growing.
"
If you have lost them in the wood near
"
here," said the Fairy, we will look for them,
and we shall find them: because everything that
is lost in that wood is always found."
PINOCCHIO 89
"
Ah! now I remember all about it," replied
"
the puppet, getting quite confused I didn't
;
oo
PINOCCHIO 01
it
I would remain willingly , , , but my poor
'
papa? '
I have thought of everything. I have
already let your father know, and he will be
here to-night."
' "
Really? shouted Pinocchio, jumping for
'
Cat.
92 PINOCCHIO
'
It is a long story," answered the puppet,
fc
which I will tell you when I have time. But
do you know that the other night, when you
left me alone at the inn, I met with assassins
on the road. ..."
'
;
Assassins! . . .
Oh, poor Pinocchio! And
what did they want? "
They wanted to rob me of my gold pieces."
'
"
Villains! ." said the Fox.
. .
'
able people like us find a safe refuge ?
Whilst they were thus talking Pinocchio
observed that the Cat was lame of her front
right leg, for in fact she had lost her paw with
all its claws. He therefore asked her :
"
What have you done with your paw? '
"
If all cats resembled you, how fortunate
'
And
now, what are you doing here?
asked the Fox of the puppet.
"
I am waiting for my papa, whom I expect
to arrive every moment."
"
And your gold pieces?
'
"
I have got them in my pocket, all but one
that I spent at the inn of the Red Craw-fish."
"
And to think that, instead of four pieces,
by to-morrow they might become one or two
thousand! Why do you not listen to my ad-
vice? why will you not go and bury them in
'
the Field of miracles?
"
To-day it is impossible : I will go another
day."
"
Another day it will be too late! . . ." said
the Fox.
94 PINOCCHIO
" "
"
Why?
Because the field has been bought by a
gentleman, and after to-morrow no one will
be allowed to bury money there."
"
How far off is the
Field of miracles?
'
"
Not two miles. Will you come with us?
In half an hour you will be there. You can
bury your money at once, and in a few minutes
you will collect two thousand, and this evening
you will return with your pockets full. Will
'
asked Pinocchio.
"
It is here, not two steps from us."
They crossed the town, and having gone
beyond the walls they came to a solitary field
which to look at resembled all other fields.
"
We
"
are arrived," said the Fox to the pup-
pet. Now stoop down and dig a little hole in
the ground and put your gold pieces into it."
Pinocchio obeyed. He dug a hole, put into
it the four gold pieces that he had left, and then
am also a criminal."
4
In that case you are perfectly right," said
the jailor;and taking off his hat and bowing
to him respectfully he opened the
prison doors
and let him escape.
XX
LIBERATED FROM PRISON, HE STARTS TO RETURN
TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE; BUT ON THE ROAD
HE MEETS WITH A HORRIBLE SERPENT, AND
AFTERWARDS HE IS CAUGHT IN A TRAP
can imagine Pinocchio's joy when he
He had
seen an immense Serpent stretched
across the road. Its skin was green, it had red
" "
Poor boy! said the Firefly, stopping and
'
" '
But were the grapes yours?
" "
No
"
Then who taught you to carry off other
'
people's property?
106
PINOCCHIO 107
*
I was so hungry. ..."
'
" "
That istrue, that is true said Pinocchio,
!
'
' '
then
'
it is you who
carry off my chickens?
"
No, it is not I; indeed it is not! cried
'
'
"
Good evening, Melampo."
"
My name is not Melampo," answered the
puppet.
" '
Oh! then who are you?
"
I am Pinocchio."
"
And what are you doing here? '
"
I am acting as watch-dog."
"
Then where is Melampo? Where is the
'
'
Not
a dog? Then what are you?
'
I am a puppet."
'
'
And you are acting as watch-dog? '
"
That is only too true as a punishment."
'
"
Onenight in every week you are to per-
mit us to visit this poultry-yard as we have
hitherto done, and to carry off eight chickens.
Of these chickens seven are to be eaten by us,
and one we will give to you, on the express
understanding, however, that you pretend to
be asleep, and that it never enters your head
to bark and to wake the peasant."
' "
Did Melampo act in this manner? asked
Pinocchio.
'
" "
Where are they?
"
In the poultry-yard."
"
I will come down directly."
In fact, in less time than it takes to say
Amen, the peasant came down. He rushed
into the poultry-yard, caught the polecats, and
having put them into a sack, he said to them in
a tone of great satisfaction:
"At last you have fallen into my hands!
I might punish you, but I am not so cruel. I
will content myself instead by carrying you
in the morning to the innkeeper of the neigh-
PINOCCHIO 113
He
then approached Pinocchio and began
to caress him, and amongst other things he
asked him:
How did you manage to discover the four
'*
. . . The dead
are dead, and the best thing to
be done is to leave them in peace! ." . .
"
When the thieves got into the yard were
"
you asleep or awake? the peasant went on to
ask him.
" "
I was asleep," answered Pinocchio, but
the polecats woke me with their chatter, and
one of them came to the kennel and said to me :
'
If you promise not to bark, and not to wake
the master, we will make you a present of a
fine chicken ready plucked .' To think that
! . .
A
fields,
soon as Pinocchio was released from the
heavy and humiliating weight of the
dog collar he started off across the
and never stopped until he had reached
the high road that led to the Fairy's house.
There he turned and looked down into the
plain beneath. He could see distinctly with
his naked eye the wood where he had been so
unfortunate as to meet with the Fox and the
Cat; he could see amongst the trees the top
of the Big Oak to which he had been hung;
but although he looked in every direction the
little house belonging to the beautiful Child
with the blue hair was nowhere visible.
Seized with a sad presentiment he began to
run with all the strength he had left, and in a
few minutes he reached the field where the little
white house had once stood. But the little white
house was no longer there. He saw instead a
115
116 PINOCCHIO
marble stone, on which were engraved these
sad words:
HERE LIES
THE CHILD WITH THE BLUE HAIR
WHO DIED FROM SORROW
BECAUSE SHE WAS ABANDONED BY HER
LITTLE BROTHER PINOCCHIO.
"
Oh, Fairy, why did you die?
little Why
did not I die instead of you, I who am so wicked,
whilst you were so good? And my papa?
. . .
'
" '
Tell me, child, what are you doing there?
"
Don't you see? I am crying!
'
said
Pinocchio, raising his head towards the voice
and rubbing his eyes with his jacket.
" "
Tell me," continued the Pigeon, amongst
your companions, do you happen to know a '
'
I left him three days ago on the sea-
shore."
'
so good!
"
Be my
boy," replied the Pigeon,
assured,
"
that when hunger is real, and there is nothing
else to eat, even vetch becomes delicious.
" '
It is my papa ! it is my papa !
hoping to be in time to
help his father, swam the whole night.
PENOCCHIO,
And what a horrible night it was! The
rain came down in torrents, it hailed, the
thunder was frightful, and the flashes of light-
ning made it as light as day.
Towards morning he saw a long strip of
land not far off. It was an island in the midst
of the sea.
He tried his utmost to reach the shore but:
escape!
Little by little the sky cleared, the sun shone
out in all his splendour, and the sea became as
quiet and smooth as oiL
123
PINOCCHIO
The puppet put his clothes in the sun to dry,
and began to look in every direction in hopes of
seeing on the vast expanse of water a little
boat with a little man in it. But although he
looked and looked, he could see nothing but the
sky, and the sea, and the sail of some ship, but
so far away that it seemed no bigger than a fly.
'
If I only knew what this island was
" "
called! he said to himself. If I only knew
whether it was inhabited by civilised people
I mean by people who have not got the bad
habit of hanging boys to the branches of the
trees. But who can I ask? who, if there is
nobody? . . ."
This idea of finding himself alone, alone, all
alone, in the midst of this great uninhabited
country, made him so melancholy that he was
just beginning to cry. But at that moment, at
a short distance from the shore, he saw a big
fish swimming by; it was going quietly on its
own business with its head out of the water.
Not knowing its name the puppet called to
it in a loud voice to make himself heard :
"
Eh, Sir
'
fish, will you permit me a word
with you?
"
Two if you like," answered the fish, who
was a Dolphin, and so polite that few similar
are to be found in any sea in the world.
"
Will you be kind enough to tell me if there
PINOCCHIO 125
'
Certainly there are," replied the Dolphin.
Indeed you will find one at a short distance
from here."
'
And what road must I take to go there? '
swim about the sea all day and all night, have
you by chance met a little boat with my papa
"
in it?
"And who is your papa?
'
"
He is the best papa in the world, whilst it
would be difficult to find a worse son than I
am."
*
terrible storm last night," an-
During the
"
swered the Dolphin, the little boat must have
gone to the bottom."
And my papa?
' '
"
Good-bye, Sir fish: excuse the trouble I
have given you, and many thanks for your
politeness."
He then took the path that had been pointed
out to him and began to walk fast so fast,
indeed, that he was almost running. And at
the slightest noise he turned to look behind
him, fearing that he might see the terrible Dog-
fish with a railway train in its mouth following
him.
After a walk of half an hour he reached a
"
little village called The village of the Indus-
trious Bees." The road was alive with people
running here and there to attend to their busi-
ness all were at work, all had something to do.
:
"
wasn't born to work!
PINOCCHIO 127
"
You shall have not only a halfpenny,"
128 PINOCCHIO
"
said the but I will give you twopence,
man,
provided that you help me to drag home these
two carts of charcoal."
'I am surprised at you!" answered the
"
puppet in a tone of offence. Let me tell you
that I am not accustomed to do the work of a
donkey: I have never drawn a cart! ." . .
"
So much the better for you," answered the
'
'
If you will help me
to carry home these
two cans of water, I will give you a fine piece
of bread."
Pinocchio looked at the can and answered
neither yes nor no.
And besides the bread you shall have a
'
"
I must have patience! I will carry the
can to your house."
The can was heavy, and the puppet not
being strong enough to carry it in his hand,
had to resign himself to carry it on his head.
When they reached the house the good little
woman made Pinocchio sit down at a small
table already laid, and she placed before him
the bread, the cauliflower, and the bonbon.
Pinocchio did not eat, he devoured. His
stomach was like an apartment that had been
left empty and uninhabited for five months.
When
his ravenous hunger was somewhat
. . .
yes, yes, yes, the same voice . . . the same
eyes . . . the same hair . . .
yes, yes, yes . . .
PINOCCHIO 131
. . Do not
. make me cry any more! If you
knew ... I have cried so much, I have suffered
so much. ." . .
A
found
firstthe good little woman maintained
that she was not the little Fairy with
blue hair; but seeing that she was
and not wishing to continue the
out,
comedy any longer, she ended by making her-
self known, and she said to Pinocchio:
You little rogue how did you ever
! dis-
'
cover who I was ?
'
It was my great affection for you that
told me."
Do you remember? You left me a child,
'
'
did you manage to grow so fast?
'
That is a secret."
"
Teach it to me, for I should also like to
grow. Don't you see? I always remain no
bigger than a ninepin."
132
PINOCCHIO 133
"
And you will become one, if you know
how to deserve it. ." . .
" "
Not really? What can I do to deserve it?
"A very easy thing: by learning to be a
good boy."
"
And you think I am not? '
"
You
are quite the contrary. Good boys
are obedient, and you. ..."
"
And I never obey."
"
Good boys like to learn and to work, and
"
you
rt
And I instead lead an idle vagabond life
"
I promise you. I will become a good little
boy, and I will be the consolation of my papa.
134 PINOCCHIO
'
.... Where is my poor papa at this moment?
"
I do not know."
"
Shall I ever have the happiness of seeing
'
'
true that you were dead ?
'
It seems not," said the Fairy, smiling.
'
If you only knew the sorrow I felt and
'
the tightening of my throat when I read, here
'"
lies
'
I know it, and it is on that account that
I have forgiven you. I saw from the sincerity
of your grief that you had a good heart; and
when boys have good hearts, even if they are
scamps and have got bad habits, there is always
something to hope for: that is, there is always
hope that they will turn to better ways. That
is why I came to look for you here. I will be
your mamma. .". .
" "
Oh, how delightful! shouted Pinocchio,
jumping for joy.
You must obey me and do everything
"
that I bid you.'
PINOCCHIO 135
1
"
Willingly, willingly, willingly !
'
"
To-morrow," rejoined the Fairy, you
will begin to go to school."
Pinocchio became at once a little less joyful.
Then you must choose an art, or a trade,
:
"
teeth? asked the Fairy in an angry voice.
'
I was saying," moaned the puppet in a
"
low voice, that it seemed to me too late for
me to go to school now. ..."
'
"
"Why?"
Because it tires me to work."
" "
My boy," said the Fairy, those who talk
in that way end almost always either in prison
or in the hospital. Let me tell you that every
man, whether he is born rich or poor, is obliged
to do something in this world to occupy him-
self, to work. Woe to those who lead slothful
lives. Sloth is a dreadful illness and must be
cured at once, in childhood. If not, when we
are old it can never be cured."
Pinocchio was touched by these words, and
lifting his head quickly he said to the Fairy:
136 PINOCCHIO
'
"
a book! howled the young rascals, convulsed
with mad laughter and one of them, more im-
;
"
Have you heard the great news?
'
"
No."
'
In the sea near here a Dog-fish has ap-
peared as big as a mountain."
"
Not really? Can it be the same Dog-fish
that was there when my poor papa was
'
drowned ?
"
We are going to the shore to see him.
'
Will you come with us?
"
No; I am going to school."
"
What
matters school? can go to We
school to-morrow. Whether we have a lesson
more or a lesson less, we shall always remain
the same donkeys."
" '
But what will the master say?
;
is over.'
"Poor donkey!' exclaimed one of the
number. Do you suppose that a fish of that
'
We
can be there and back in an hour."
'Then away!' shouted Pinocchio, "and
he who runs fastest is the best
'
!
"
And now may I ask what fun you could
find in deceiving me with the story of the Dog-
"
fish?
" "
Oh, it was great fun! answered the little
rascals in chorus.
" '
studying so hard?
"
And if I study hard what concern is it of
'
yours?
"
concerns us excessively, because it
It
makes us appear in a bad light to the master."
" "
"
Why?
Because boys who study make those who,
like us, have no wish to learn seem worse by
comparison. And that is too bad. too We
have our pride! ." . .
" '
"
Pinocchio! beg pardon ... or it will be
the worse for you ." ! . .
"
Cuckoo!' sang the puppet, putting his
"Cuckoo!"
"
You will get as many blows as a don-
key! .. ."
"Cuckoo!"
"
You will return home with a broken
nose! . . ."
"Cuckoo!"
"
Ah, you shall have the cuckoo from me
'
!
still, go and
to bed try to get a reaction!
Just then the boys, who had no more books
of their own to throw, spied at a little distance
the satchel that belonged to Pinocchio, and
took possession of it in less time than it takes
to tell.
"
Oh, mother, help ... I am dying! ." . .
Eugene! .
my poor Eugene!
. .
open . . .
"
ground? they asked Pinocchio.
I am helping my schoolfellow."
'
"
Has he been hurt? "
"
So it seems."
'
Hurt indeed " said one of the carabineers,
!
"
Not I," stammered the puppet breath-
lessly.
"
If it was not you, who then did it?
'
"
Not I," repeated Pinocchio.
"
And
with what was he wounded?
'
"
With this book." And the puppet picked
up from the ground the Treatise on Arithmetic,
bound in cardboard and parchment, and showed
it to the carabineer.
"
And to whom does this book belong?
'
"
To me."
148 PINOCCHIO
"
That is enough: nothing more is wanted.
Get up and come with us at once."
"
But I ." . .
"
Come along with us! . . ."
"
But I am innocent. . . ."
"
Comealong with us!"
Before they left, the carabineers called
some fishermen, who were passing at that mo-
ment near the shore in their boat, and said to
them:
"
We give this boy who has been wounded
in the head into your charge. Carry him to
your house and nurse him. To-morrow we
will come and see him."
They then turned to Pinocchio, and having
placed him between them they said to him in
a commanding voice :
"
Forward! and walk quickly! or it will be
the worse for you."
Without requiring it to be repeated, the
puppet set out along the road leading to the
village. But the poor little devil hardly knew
where he was. He thought he must be dream-
ing, and what a dreadful dream! He was
beside himself. He saw double his legs shook : :
150
PINOCCHIO 151
' "
Drown! shouted Pinocchio from a dis-
tance, seeing himself safe from all danger.
'
"
Good-bye, Alidoro; a good journey to
you, and take my compliments to all at home."
"
Good-bye, Pinocchio," answered the dog;
"
a thousand thanks for having saved my life.
152 PINOCCHIO
You have done me a great service, and in this
world what is given is returned. If an occa-
sion offers I shall not forget it."
'
kind I never remember to have eaten I
"
In token of my friendship and particular
'WHAT SPECIES OF FISH is THIS.'
I .1-ATJ
PINOCCHIO 155
To
the truth," answered Pinocchio,
tell
'
if I am
to choose, I should prefer to be set
at liberty and to return home."
You are joking! Do
you imagine that
I would lose the opportunity of tasting such a
rare fish? not every day, I assure you,
It is
"
Save me, Alidoro If you do not save
!
151
158 PINOCCHIO
The dog recognised Pinocchio's voice, and
to his extreme surprise perceived that it pro-
ceeded from the floured bundle that the fisher-
man held in his hand.
So what do you think he did? He made a
spring, seized the bundle in his mouth, and hold-
ing it gently between his teeth he rushed out
of the cave and was gone like a flash of
lightning.
The
fisherman, furious at seeing a fish he
was from him, ran
so anxious to eat snatched
after the dog; but he had not gone many steps
when he was taken with a fit of coughing and
had to give it up.
Alidoro, when he had reached the path that
led to the village, stopped, and put his friend
Pinocchio gently on the ground.
"How much I have to thank you for!'
said the puppet.
"
There is no necessity," replied the dog.
"
You saved me and I have now returned it.
asked the
puppet, pretending ignorance.
'
"
Calumnies! all calumnies!'
"
Do you know this Pinocchio? '
"
"
By sight," answered the puppet.
And what is your opinion of him? " asked
the little man.
"
He seems to me to be a very good boy,
anxious to learn, and obedient and affectionate
to his father and family. ." . .
'
My
boy, as to clothes, I have nothing but
a little sack in which I keep beans. If you wish
for it, take it; there it is."
Pinocchio did not wait to be told twice. He
took the sack at once, and with a pair of scissors
he cut a hole at the end and at each side, and
put it on like a shirt. And with this slight
clothing he set off for the village.
But as he went he did not feel at all com-
fortable so little so, indeed, that for a step
forward he took another backwards, and he
said, talking to himself:
'
How
shall I ever present myself to my
good little Fairy? What
will she say when
she sees me?
Will she forgive
. . . me this
second escapade? ... I bet that she will not
" "
Who is there at this hour?
" "
Is the Fairy at home? asked the puppet.
"
The Fairy is asleep and must not be
'
awakened but who are you?
;
"It is I!"
"Who is I?"
"
Pinocchio."
"
And who is Pinocchio? '
"
The puppet who lives in the Fairy's
house."
PINOCCHIO 163
" "
"Ah, I understand said the Snail.
! Wait
for me there. I will come down and open the
door directly."
"
Be quick, for pity's sake, for I am dying
of cold."
"
My boy, I am a snail, and snails are never
in a hurry."
An hour passed, and then two, and the door
was not opened. Pinocchio, who was wet
through, and trembling from cold and fear, at
last took courage and knocked again, and this
time he knocked louder.
At this second knock a window on the lower
story opened, and the same Snail appeared at it.
"
Beautiful little Snail," cried Pinocchio
"
from the street, I have been waiting for two
hours! And two hours on such a bad night
seem longer than two years. Be quick, for
pity's sake."
"
My boy," answered the calm, phlegmatic
little animal- -" my boy, I am a snail, and
snails are never in a hurry."
And window was shut again.
the
Shortly afterwards midnight struck; then
one o'clock, then two o'clock, and the door
remained still closed.
Pinocchio at last, losing all patience, seized
the knocker in a rage, intending to give a blow
that would resound through the house. But
164 PINOCCHIO
the knocker, which was iron, turned suddenly
into an eel, and slipping out of his hands dis-
appeared in the stream of water that ran down
the middle of the street.
"
Ah! is that it? " shouted Pinocchio, blind
'
with rage. Since the knocker has disap-
peared, I will kick instead with all my might."
And drawing a little back he gave a tre-
mendous kick against the house door. The blow
was indeed so violent that his foot went through
the wood and stuck and when he tried to draw
;
hammered down.
Think of poor Pinocchio ! He was obliged
to spend the remainder of the night with one
foot on the ground and the other in the air.
The following morning at daybreak the
door was at last opened. That clever little
Snail had taken only nine hours to come down
from the fourth story to the door. It is evident
that her exertions must have been great.
What are you doing with your foot stuck
'
"
in the door? she asked the puppet, laughing.
"
It was an accident. Do try, beautiful
little Snail, if you cannot release me from this
torture."
"
My boy, that is the work of a carpenter,
and I have never been a carpenter."
PINOCCHIO 165
"
Beg the Fairy from me! .." .
"
The Fairy is asleep and must not be
wakened."
"
But what do you suppose that I can do
'
all day nailed to this door?
"
Amuse yourself by counting the ants that
pass down the street."
Bring me at least something to eat, for
'
I am quite exhausted."
"
At
once," said the Snail.
In fact, after three hours and a half she
returned to Pinocchio carrying a silver tray
on her head. The tray contained a loaf of
bread, a roast chicken, and four ripe apricots.
'
Here is the breakfast that the Fairy has
sent you," said the Snail.
The puppet felt very much comforted at
the sight of these good things. But when he
began to eat them, what was his disgust at
making the discovery that the bread was
plaster, the chicken cardboard, and the four
apricots painted alabaster.
Hewanted to cry. In his desperation he
tried to throw away the tray and all that was
on it; but instead, either from grief or exhaus-
tion, he fainted away.
When hecame to himself he found that he
was lying on a sofa, and the Fairy was beside
him.
166 PINOCCfflO
*
'
Go if you like and invite your companions
for the breakfast to-morrow, but remember to
return home before dark. Have you under-
"
stood?
'
I promise to be back in an hour," answered
the puppet.
'
" '
What you doing there?
are asked
Pinocchio, coming up to him.
"
am waiting for midnight, to start
I . . ."
" '
"
Why, where are you going?
Very far,very far, very far away."
"
And I have been three times to your house
to look for you."
"What did you want with me?'
"
Do you not know the great event? Have
'
to-night."
"At what o'clock?"
"
In a short time."
"
And where are you going? '
"
I am
going to live in a country the . . .
" "
And how is it called?
" *
It is called the Land of Boobies/ Why
'
do you not come too?
"I? No, never!"
170 PINOCCHIO
"
You
are wrong, Pinocchio. Believe me,
if you do not come you will repent it. Where
could you find a better country for us boys?
There are no schools there: there are no mas-
ters: there are no books. In that delightful
land nobody ever studies. On Thursday there
is never school; and every week consists of six
"
But how are the days spent in the Land '
of Boobies'?"
"
They are spent in play and amusement
from morning till night. When night comes
you go to bed, and recommence the same life
in the morning. What do you think of it?
'
Hum
'
." said Pinocchio and he shook
! . .
;
That is
:
hurry?
"
Home. My good Fairy wishes me to be
back before dark."
'
"
Let her scold. When she has scolded
well she will hold her tongue," said that rascal
Candlewick.
'
And what are you going to do ? Are you
'
"
A coach will pass by shortly which is to
take me to that happy country."
"
What would I not give for the coach to
pass by now! . . ."
" "
"
Why?
That I might see you all start together."
"
Stay here a little longer and you will see
us."
'
"
Not one."
"
Andno one is ever made to study?
'
" '
"
Why you not come also?
will
It is useless to tempt me. I promised my
good Fairy to become a sensible boy, and I
will not break my word."
"
Good-bye, then,and give my compliments
gymnasiums, and also to
to all the boys at the
those of the lyceums, if you meet them in the
street."
"
Good-bye, Candlewick: a pleasant jour-
ney to you, amuse yourself, and think some-
times of your friends."
Thus saying, the puppet made two steps to
go, but then stopped, and turning to his friend
he inquired:
"But are you quite certain that in that
PINOCCHIO 173
will
"
you come, yes or no?
But is it really true," asked the puppet,
"
that in that country boys are never obliged
to study?"
" '
country !
XXXI
AFTER FIVE MONTHS' RESIDENCE IN THE LAND OF
COCAGNE, PINOCCHIO, TO HIS GREAT ASTON-
ISHMENT, GROWS A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF
DONKEY'S EARS, AND HE BECOMES A LITTLE
DONKEY, TAIL AND ALL
A
and rags.
last the coach arrived; and it arrived
without making the slightest noise, for
its wheels were bound round with tow
"
Tell me, my fine boy, would you also like
'
to go to that fortunate country?
"
I certainly wish to go."
"
But I must warn you, my dear child, that
there is not a place left in the coach. You can
see for yourself that it is quite full . . ."
on the springs."
And giving a leap he seated himself astride
on the springs.
"
And you, my love ! . . ." said the little man,
turning in a flattering manner to Pinocchio,
"
what do you intend to do? Are you coming
'
"
Oh, I will go on foot."
"
No, indeed, I could not allow that. I
would rather mount one of these donkeys,"
cried Pinocchio.
Approaching the right-hand donkey of the
pair he attempted to mount him, but the
first
animal turned on him, and giving him a great
blow in the stomach rolled him over with his
legs in the air.
You can imagine the impertinent and im-
moderate laughter of all the boys who wit-
nessed this scene.
But the little man did not laugh. He ap-
proached the rebellious donkey and, pretend-
ing to give him a kiss, bit off half of his ear.
Pinocchio in the meantime had got up from
the ground in a fury, and with a spring he
seated himself on the poor animal's back. And
he sprang so well that the boys stopped laugh-
" '
"
During the night all sleep,
But I sleep never . . ."
a boy!
'Eh! Sir coachman," cried 'Pinocchio to
"
thelittle man, here is an extraordinary thing!
This donkey is crying."
'
road is long."
Pinocchio obeyed without another word. In
the morning about daybreak they arrived safely
"
in the Land of Boobies."
It was a country unlike any other country
in the world. The population was composed
entirely of boys. The oldest were fourteen,
and the youngest scarcely eight years old. In
the streets there was such merriment, noise,
and shouting, that it was enough to turn any-
body's head. There were troops of boys every-
where. Some were playing with nuts, some
with battledores, some with balls. Some rode
velocipedes, others wooden horses. A
party
were playing at hide and seek, a few were chas-
ing each other. Boys dressed in straw were
eating lighted tow; some were reciting, some
singing, some leaping. Some were amusing
themselves with walking on their hands with
their feet in the air; others were trundling
182 PINOCCHIO
hoops, or strutting about dressed as generals,
wearing leaf helmets and commanding a squad-
ron of cardboard soldiers. Some were laugh-
ing, some shouting, some were calling out;
others clapped their hands, or whistled, or
clucked like a hen who has just laid an egg.
To sum it all up, it was such a pandemonium,
such a bedlam, such an uproar, that not to be
deafened it would have been necessary to stuff
one's ears with cotton wool. In every square,
canvas theatres had been erected, and they were
crowded with boys from morning till evening.
On the walls of the houses there were inscrip-
'
tions written in charcoal: Long live play-
things, we will have no more schools:down with
"
arithmetic: and similar other fine sentiments
all in bad spelling.
Pinocchio, Candlewick, and the other boys
who had made the journey with the little man,
had scarcely set foot in the town before they
were in the thick of the tumult, and I need not
tell you thata few minutes they had made
in
' "
Noble soul said Pinocchio, embracing
!
fellow-lodger?
"
I am ill, my dear little Marmot, very ill
. .and of an illness that frightens me. Do
.
'
"
You have got a very bad fever ! . . ."
"What fever is it?"
"
It is donkey fever."
"
That is a fever that I do not understand,**
said the puppet, but he understood it only too
well.
"
Then I will explain to you," said the
it
"
Marmot. You must know that in two or
186 PINOCCHIO
three hours you will be no longer a puppet, or
a boy. ."
. .
"
Then what shall I be? "
'
In two or three hours you will become
really and truly a little donkey, like those that
draw cartsand carry cabbages and salad to
market."
"
Oh! unfortunate that I am! unfortunate
that I am!" cried Pinocchio, seizing his two
ears with his hands, and pulling them and
tearing them furiously as if they had been some
one else's ears.
"
My
dear boy," said the Marmot, by way
"
of consoling him, what can you do to pre-
vent it? It is destiny. It is written in the
decrees of wisdom that all boys who are lazy,
and who take a dislike to books, to schools, and
to masters, and who pass their time in amuse-
ment, games, and diversions, must end sooner
or later by becoming transformed into so many
little donkeys."
"But is it really so?' asked the puppet,
sobbing.
"
It is indeed only too true! And tears are
now useless. You should have thought of it
'
sooner!
"
But it was not my fault: believe me, little
"
One of my schoolfellows. I wanted to
return home I wanted to be obedient. I wished
:
" "
Land of Boobies there we shall none of :
always be merry.'
"
And why did you follow the advice of '
And
he turned to go out. But when he
reached the door he remembered his donkey's
ears, and feeling ashamed to show them in pub-
lic, what do you think he did? He took a big
cotton cap, and putting it on his head he pulled
it well down over the point of his nose.
"
Very well as well as a mouse in a Par-
;
mesan cheese."
" '
Are you saying that seriously?
" "
"
Why should I tell you a lie?
Excuse me but why,then, do you keep
;
'
on that cotton cap which covers up your ears?
PINOCCHIO 189
'
"
Oh, poor Candlewick! ." . .
'
Why
I should like to see yours."
No you must be the first."
'
:
" "
No, dear! First you and then I!
( "
Well," said the puppet, let us come to
an agreement like good friends."
'
Let us hear it."
5
"
I agree."
"Then attention!"
Pinocchio began to count in a loud voice:
"One! Two! Three!"
At the word three! the two boys took off
their caps and threw them into the air.
And then a scene
followed that would seem
incredible was not true. That is, that when
if it
i
>i>X AND
sjs
K
PINOCCHIO 191
"
What is the matter with you?
'
'
"
Open the doe~! I am the little man, I
am the coachman, who brought you to this
country. Open at one*1 , or it will be the worse
"
for you!
XXXIII
PINOCCHIO, HAVING BECOME A GENUINE LITTLE
DONKEY, IS TAKEN TO BE SOLD, AND IS
BOUGHT BY THE DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY OF
BUFFOONS TO BE TAUGHT TO DANCE, AND TO
JUMP THROUGH HOOPS! BUT ONE EVENING
HE LAMES HIMSELF, AND THEN HE IS
BOUGHT BY A MAN WHO PURPOSES TO MAKE
A DRUM OF HIS SKIN
that the door remained shut
the little man burst it open with a violent
FINDING
kick, and coming into the room he said
to Pinocchio and Candlewick with his usual
little laugh:
"
Well done, boys You brayed well, and
!
to me, my
fine donkey; if you are so full of
This hay
not bad," he said to himself;
is
*
but how much
better it would have been if
I had gone on with my studies Instead of ! . . .
' '
"
respectable auditors! I am not here
My
to tell you falsehoods of the great difficulties
that I have overcome in understanding and sub-
jugating this mammifer, whilst he was grazing
at liberty amongst the mountains in the plains
of the torrid zone. I beg you will observe the
wild rolling of his eyes. Every means having
been tried in vain to tame him, and to accustom
him to the life of domestic quadrupeds, I was
often forced to have recourse to the convincing
argument of the whip. But all my goodness
to him, instead of gaining his affections, has,
on the contrary, increased his viciousness.
PINOCCHIO 199
"
Courage, Pinocchio! before you begin
your feats make your bow to this distinguished
audience ladies, gentlemen, and children."
Pinocchio obeyed, and bent both his knees
till they touched the ground, and remained
"
Fairy! said Pinocchio to himself, recognising
her immediately and overcome with delight he
;
tried to cry:
"Oh, my little Fairy! Oh, my little
Fairy!"
But instead of these words a bray came from
his throat, so sonorous and so prolonged that
all the spectators laughed, and more especially
all the children who were in the theatre.
PINOCCfflO 201
"
Courage, Pinocchio! Now let the audi-
ence see how gracefully you can jump through
the hoops."
Pinocchio tried two or three times, but each
time that he came in front of the hoop, instead
of going through it, he found it easier to go
under it. At last he made a leap and went
through it; but his right leg unfortunately
caught in the hoop, and that caused him to fall
to the ground doubled up in a heap on the
other side.
When he got up he was lame, and it was
only with great difficulty that he managed to
return to the stable.
202 PINOCCHIO
"
donkey Bring out the little donkey
! shouted !
donkey?
"
Twenty francs."
"
I will give you twenty pence. Don't sup-
pose that I am buying him to make use of; I
am buying him solely for his skin. I see that
his skin is very hard, and I intend to make a
drum with it for the band of my village."
I leave my readers to imagine poor
it to
Pinocchio's feelings when he heard that he was
destined to become a drum!
As soon as the purchaser had paid his
twenty pence he conducted the little donkey to
PINOCCHIO 203
"
And the little donkey that I threw into
"
the sea? What has become of him?
204
PINOCCHIO 205
" "
I am the little donkey 1 said Pinocchio,
laughing.
"You?"
'I."
"
Ah, you young scamp Do you dare to !
'
make game of me?
"
To make game of you? Quite the
contrary, my dear master; I am speaking
seriously."
'
But how can you, who, but a short time
ago, were a little donkey, have become a wooden
puppet, only from having been left in the
'
water?
'
It must have been the effect of sea- water.
The sea makes extraordinary changes."
'Beware, puppet, beware! Don't . . .
"
You must know that I was once a pup-
pet as I am now, and I was on the point of
becoming a boy like the many that there are
206 PINOCCHIO
in the world. But instead, induced by my dis-
like to study and the advice of bad companions,
I ran away from home and one fine day . . .
'
poor pennies?
"And why did you buy me? You bought
me to make a drum of my skin a drum ." ! . . . ! . .
"
Only too true And now where shall I
!
'
"
rage. I know only that I spent twenty pence
to buy you, and I will have my money back.
Shall I tell you what I will do? I will take
you back to the market and I will sell you by
weight as seasoned wood for lighting fires."
"
Sell me if you like; I am content," said
Pinocchio.
But as he said it he made a spring and
plunged into the water. Swimming gaily away
from the shore he called to his poor owner:
HE SWAM WITH REDOUBLED STRENGTH AND ENERGY TOWARD THE
WHITE ROCK
TW N?
1. 1 BRA BY
*
1>X AVM
&
L
PINOCCHIO 209
"
Good-bye, master; you should be in
if
"
Good-bye, master;if you should be in
want of a little well-seasoned wood for lighting
the fire, remember me."
In the twinkling of an eye he had swum so
far off that he was scarcely visible. All that
could be seen of him was a little black speck
on the surface of the sea that from time to
time lifted its legs out of the water and leapt
and capered like a dolphin enjoying himself.
Whilst Pinocchio was swimming he knew
not whither, he saw in the midst of the sea a
rock that seemed to be made of white marble,
and on the summit there stood a beautiful little
goat who bleated lovingly and made signs to
him to approach.
But the most singular thing was this. The
goat's hair, instead of being white or black,
little
or a mixture of two colours as is usual with
other goats, was blue, and of a very vivid blue,
greatly resembling the hair of the beautiful
Child.
I leave you to imagine how rapidly poor
Pinocchio's heart began to beat. He swam
with redoubled strength and energy towards
14
210 PINOCCHIO
the white rock; and he was already half-way
when he saw, rising up out of the water and
coming to meet him, the horrible head of a sea-
monster. His wide-open cavernous mouth and
his three rows of enormous teeth would have
been terrifying to look at even in a picture.
And do you know what this sea-monster
was?
This sea-monster was neither more nor less
than that gigantic Dog-fish who has been men-
tioned many times in this story, and who, for
his slaughter and for his insatiable voracity,
had been named the "Attila of fish and fisher-
men.'
Only think of poor Pinocchio's terror at
the sight of the monster. He
tried to avoid it,
to change his direction he tried to escape but
; ;
"
I have nothing in common with fish. I am
a puppet."
"
Then
you are not a fish, why did you
if
'
let yourself be swallowed by the monster?
"
I didn't let myself be swallowed: it was
the monster swallowed me! And now, what
'
"
Escape if you are able! ." . .
'
'
I also recognised you," said Geppetto,
"
and I would willingly have returned to the
shore but what was I to do
: The sea was tre-
!
"
And how have you managed to live ? And
where did you get the candle ? And the matches
to light it? Who gave them to you? '
'
" '
"
Follow me, and don't be afraid."
And they walked for some time and
traversed the body and the stomach of the Dog-
fish. But when they had arrived at the point
where the monster's big throat began, they
thought it better to stop to give a good look
round and to choose the best moment for
escaping.
Now must tell you that the Dog-fish,
I
being very and suffering from asthma and
old,
palpitation of the heart, was obliged to sleep
with his mouth open. Pinocchio, therefore,
having approached the entrance to his throat
and, looking up, could see beyond the enormous
gaping mouth a large piece of starry sky and
beautiful moonlight.
"
This is the moment to escape," he whis-
"
the Dog-fish is
pered, turning to his father ;
220 PINOCCHIO
sleeping like a dormouse, the sea is calm, and
as light as day. Follow me, dear papa,
it is and
in a short time we shall be in safety."
They immediately climbed up the throat of
the sea-monster, and having reached his im-
mense mouth they began to walk on tiptoe down
his tongue.
Before taking the final leap the puppet
said to his father:
"
Get on my shoulders and put your arms
round my neck. I will take care of the rest."
As soon as Geppetto was firmly settled on
his son's shoulders, Pinocchio, feeling sure of
himself, threw himself into the water and began
to swim. The sea was as smooth as oil, the
moon shone brilliantly, and the Dog-fish was
sleeping so profoundly that even a cannonade
would have failed to wake him.
XXXVI
PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET
AND BECOMES A BOY
Pinocchio was swimming
"
It is I, and my poor father! . . ."
"
I know that voice! You are Pinocchio!
'
" '
"
I followed your example. You showed
me the road, and I escaped after you."
"
Tunny, you have arrived at the right mo-
ment! I implore you to help us, or we are
lost."
"
Willingly and with all my heart. You
must, both of you, take hold of my tail and
leave me to guide you. I will take you on shore
in four minutes."
Geppetto and Pinocchio, as I need not tell
you, accepted the offer at once but instead of ;
Begone, impostors !
is
226 riNoccmo
*
I will have pity on both father and son,
but I wished to remind you of the ill treatment
I received from you, to teach you that in this
world, when it is possible, we should show cour-
tesy to everybody, if we wish it to be extended
to us in our hour of need."
You are right, you are right, and
Cricket,
I will bear in mind the you have given
lesson
me. But tell me how you managed to buy
this beautiful hut."
"
This hut was given to me yesterday by a
goat whose wool was of a beautiful blue colour."
"And where has the goat gone?' asked
Pinocchio with lively curiosity.
"
I do not know."
"
And when will it come back? . . ."
"
It will never come back. It went away
yesterday in great grief and, bleating, it seemed
*
to say Poor Pinocchio ... I shall never see
:
"
Did it really say that? . . . Then it was
she! ... it was she! ... it was my dear little
"
How much milk do you want? '
"
I want a tumblerful."
"
A tumbler of milk costs a halfpenny. Be-
gin by giving me the halfpenny."
"
I have not even a farthing," replied
Pinocchio, grieved and mortified.
"
That is bad, puppet," answered the gar-
dener. "If you have not even a farthing, I
have not even a drop of milk."
"I must have patience!' said Pinocchio,
and he turned to go.
" "
Wait a little," said Giangio. can We
come to an arrangement together. Will you
'
"
It is a wooden pole which serves to draw
up the water from the cistern to water the
vegetables."
"
You can try me .". .
"
Well, then, if you will draw a hundred
228 PINOCCHIO
buckets of water, I will give you in compensa-
tion a tumbler of milk."
'
It is a bargain."
Giangio then led Pinocchio to the kitchen
garden and taught him how to turn the pump-
ing machine. Pinocchio immediately began to
work but before he had drawn up the hundred
;
"
I am Can ... die ... wick
. . . ." . .
"
How? " shouted Giangio, laughing loudly.
"
How? had you donkeys for schoolfellows? . . .
My
dear Pinocchio, the poor Fairy is
lying in bed at the hospital . ." ! .
"At
the hospital? ." . .
'
It is only too true. Overtaken by a thou-
sand misfortunes she has fallen seriously ill,
and she has not even enough to buy herself a
mouthful of bread."
*
Is it really so? ... Oh, what sorrow you
have given me! Oh, poor Fairy! poor Fairy!
poor Fairy! ... If I had a million I would run
and carry it to her but I have only forty
. . .
'
'
written:
the forty pence to her dear Pinocchio, and
thanks him for his good heart." He
opened
the purse, and instead of forty copper pennies
he saw forty shining gold pieces fresh from the
mint.
He then went and looked at himself in the
glass, and he thought he was some one else.
For he no longer saw the usual reflection of a
wooden puppet; he was greeted instead by the
image of a bright, intelligent boy with chest-
nut hair, blue eyes, and looking as happy and
joyful as if it were the Easter holidays.
In the midst of all these wonders succeed-
ing each other Pinocchio felt quite bewildered,
and he could not tell if he was really awake or
if he was dreaming with his eyes open.
'
"
Because when bovsw
who have behaved
badly turn over a new leaf and become good,
they have the power of bringing content and
happiness to their families."
"
And where has the old wooden Pinocchio
'
hidden himself?
"
There he is," answered Geppetto, and he
pointed to a big puppet leaning against a chair,
with its head on one side, its arms dangling,
and its legs so crossed and bent that it was
really a miracle that it remained standing.
Pinocchio turned and looked at it and after
;
j,